Themed on “exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future,” the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) aims to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges among Asian countries. India and China, two ancient, sizeable countries in Asia with long history and rich culture, have previously played and are still playing an important role in the development of human civilization. On the sidelines of the conference, China Today interviewed Indian scholar Swaran Singh, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, who shared his views on how China and India can dance to the same tune and contribute Asian Wisdom to the making of a truly shared future of mankind.

China, Japan and India have become the backbones of global governance, as Asian countries have a great potential to participate in global governance, according to a report released at a parallel session of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations on Wednesday.

Asia has been a model of the peaceful existence of all civilizations for a long time. Chinese civilizations are the oldest civilizations in the world that have consistently existed. At present for China as a global political and economic power, it's a right choice and right occasions to hold such a conference for more mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.

Under the theme of "exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future," the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday, May 15. Representatives from 47 Asian countries and other countries outside the region participated in the event.

As the most populous continent in the world, Asia has a long and influential history of human civilization. Through cultural accumulation, countries like China and India, over time, have built their unique wisdom. Both countries have played an important role in the development of human civilization, particularly by helping Asian countries fend off colonialism and become independent and modernized.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the opening of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations on Wednesday has been echoed by many as his vision inspires hope for a brighter future for Asia and humanity.

In his famous speech at UNESCO five years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the exchange of ideas and mutual learning among civilizations to build a community with a shared future. To state the exact words of his celebrated speech, "Civilizations come in different colors, and such diversity makes exchange and mutual learning among civilizations relevant and valuable; civilizations are equal, and such equality makes exchange and mutual learning among civilizations possible; civilizations are inclusive, and such inclusiveness gives exchange and mutual learning among civilizations the drive to move forward."

In Beijing's leafy Olympic Green stands a stately edifice, the curve of whose facade, inspired by the eaves of ancient Chinese architecture, symbolizes a bridge connecting different cultures around the world.

"China has a very rich and old culture, which has fascinated most foreigners for many years. And so is the case with me," said Danish ambassador to China, Carsten Damsgaard, on his love of Chinese culture.

It’s a paradox of our time that as the world becomes closer and more interconnected, xenophobia, unilateralism and trade barriers are creating a deeper chasm and differences all across the world. Instead of celebrating diversity and learning from each other’s cultures, racism and nationalism are raising their ugly heads.

The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations currently being held in Beijing is taking place against the background of the end of the West’s unchallenged dominance of world affairs, which has lasted for almost 500 years. Western scholars have written the world’s history, and Western values have dominated the assessments of whether governments and nations are good or bad. This state of affairs has existed for so long that many people in the West believe any shift away from the dominance of Western values must be a regression into the Dark Ages. The West has brought a lot of great thought and knowledge to the world, but it has often lacked an awareness of the damage it has done to countless other civilizations.